Self-erecting advertising display associated with shipping containers



May 21, 1963 D. GOLDSTEIN 3,090,492

. SELF-ERECTING ADVERTISING DISPLAY ASSOCIATED WITH SHIPPING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

BYBe b +m A TTOIQA/EYS May 21, 1963 D. GOLDSTEIN 3,090,492

SELF-ERECTING ADVERTISING DISPLAY ASSOCIATED v WITH SHIPPING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BYBLMN M953 g 4 BQM United States 3,090,492 SELF-ERECTING ADVERTISING DISPLAY ASSO- CIATED WITH SHHPING CONTAINERS Daniel Goldstein, New York, N.Y., assignor to Schenley Industries, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 50,244 3 Claims. (Ci. 211-73) This invention relates generally to advertising displays and the like, associated with a shipping container, and includes a unique merchandising system employing such advertising displays.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a unique system of merchandising, wherein immediately upon unpacking of a container of merchandise at the location of ultimate sale, a display automatically erects itself in complete and finished condition, all ready :for use, without the need for any tearing, cutting, bending, assembling, reading of instructions, or any effort other than that required in unpacking merchandise, thus conserving time.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel and unique self-erecting display for use in the instant merchandising system.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a merchandising system of the type described above wherein it is only necessary to remove the cover of a shipping container, that is, merely to open the shipping container without even removing the goods therefrom, whereupon the display automatically stands up and assumes its fully erected condition, to prevent the display being overlooked and discarded by the retailer.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a self-erecting display having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which may include a base and display components upstanding from the base decorated and provided with ad vertising indicia of any desired nature. The instant invention also contemplates the provision of three-dimensional or multi-plane pop-up design configurations in conjunction with the self-erecting display easel.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a self-erecting display construction of the type described which is simple and durable in construction and use, which can be economically manufactured by mass production techniques, for economies in cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a shipping container including goods to be shipped, and a display associated therewith ready for shipping, with the container cover elevated (already opened or severed from the container) for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view showing a collapsed display of the instant invention, say in the condition of shipping as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear perspective View showing the display of easel of FIGURES 1 and 2 in a partially erected condition;

, FIGURE 4 is a front perspective view showing the display of the instant invention in its fully erected condition; and

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FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view showing the fully erected display or easel of FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, there is shown a shipping container, generally designated 10, which may include a generally rectangular lower part or receptacle 11, and an upper part or cover 12 adapted to extend over and close the lower part. Interiorly of the receptacle there are contained the goods, which may be bottled goods 13 separated from each other by generally vertical dividers 14. The container shown is of corrugated construction having secured overlapping closure flaps 9*. The goods or merchandise may be of any description, either with or without separators.

Resting upon the goods 13- is a self-erecting display, generally designated 15. As will appear hereinafter in greater detail, the display 15', which is shown in FIG- URE l in its generally coplanar or collapse-d condition, is yieldably maintained in this condition by superposition thereon of the cover 12; and, upon removal of the cover, the display 15 automatically erects itself to a full and complete condition for its display use. In this manner, the display cannot be inadvertently or otherwise overlooked by receiving and unpacking personnel, nor are personnel deterred from effecting erection and use of the display by having to follow relatively tedious and sometimes difiicult printed instructions. in addition, there is present the important factor of the time element in view of the quickness of the set-up.

While it is preferred in practice of the instant merchandising system to place the resiliently yieldably collapse-d display 15 on top of the contained goods 13, so that it will be immediately obvious to unpacking personnel, it is appreciated that the collapsed display may also be located beneath the goods, or at any other desired location within the container in.

The display 15- may advantageously be formed, as by die cutting and scoring, from a single piece of stilf sheet material, such as corrugated cardboard, and may include a generally rectangular base 17, to which is hingedly connected a generally rectangular upstanding back member 18. More specifically, the base 17 is hingedly connected along its rear edge by a fold line 19 to the lower or rearward edge of the generally rectangular back member 18, the latter folding forwardly into generally flat, overlying relation with respect to the base in the collapsed condition of FIGURES l and 2.

The lower laterally medial region of the back member '18 is formed with a generally rectangular cutout 20 bounded by edges 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. In particular, the edge 21 extends transversely from the hinged connection or fold line it? to one end of the edge 22 which extends generally parallel to the fold 19, being spaced therefrom. From the other end of the edge 22, the edge 23 extends generally toward the fold .19 to the edge 24 which extends a short distance generally parallel to the fold l9 and terminates at the short edge 25 which extends to the latter fold.

Formed from the material of the cutout or opening 26 is an integral extension 27 of the base 17. That is, the extension 27, in the collapsed condition of FIGURE 2, extends generally coplanar with and rearward from the base 17 beyond the rear edge or fold 19 of the base. The extension 27 includes a relatively stifi portion 28 proximate to the side edge 21 of the cutout 2i and a swingable portion or flap 29 proximate to the side edge 23 of the cutout 20. Further, the flap 29 is hingedly connected to the stiff extension portion 28 by a hinge, crease or fold line 30 for swinging movement relative to the portion 28. The hinged connection 30 extends generally normal to and intersects with the axis of the hinged connection or fold line 19. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the hinged con- 'member 28 is collapsed. An arcuate cut or slit 31 extends from the forward end of the fold 30 about an approximate center of curvature located adjacent to the intersection of the axes of hinges 19 and 30. Thus, the swingable fiap 29 includes a forward portion bounded between the arcuate edge 32 of slit 31 and the forward region of fold 39'. The arcuate edge 32 extends rearward slightly beyond the hinge or fold 19, where it terminates at a notch 33 extending inward normal to and toward the fold 3G. The rearward side edge 3'4 of the notch 33 extends laterally beyond the arcuate edge 32, away from the fold 3i and defines an abutment edge surface, as will appear presently.

An elastically or resiliently extensile tension element'SS, which may be a rubber band, has its opposite ends respectively connected to the flap 2 and back member 18, as at 36 and 37. As may be seen in the collapsed condition of FIGURE 2., the elastic or resilient tension member 35 extends diagonally, or transverse both of the hinge 19 and the hinge 30. Further, the tension member 35 crosses the axis of hinge 19, and also crosses the axis of hinge 3% extended.

On the facing surfaces of the base .17 and back member 18 there may be provided sheets 40 and 41 respectively secured in facing engagement with the base and back member and having cut-and-hinged portions 42 and 43 swingable between fiat overlying, substantially coplanar relation and an upstanding and outstanding condition, see FIGURES 4 and 5, presenting a three-dimensional appearance. That is, the relatively swingable portions 42 and 43 respectively move into vertical and horizontal disposition in the erected condition of the instant display or easel.

Returning again to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen in the former figure that the tension member 35 exerts forces on both the flap 29 and back member 18. The force exerted on the flap 29 tends to swing the latter up- Ward about the fold 30 to the condition of FIGURE 3; and, the force exerted on the back member 13 tends to swing the back member upward and backward through an intermediate position shown in FIGURE 3 and into the fully erected condition of FIGURE 5. During the upward-and-rearward swinging movement of the back member 18, the cut-out edge '22 rides along the arcuate edge 32, until the edge 22 snaps into the notch 33, and

the rear surface of the back member 18 proximate to the edge 22 abuts against the edge 34. This prevents further rearward movement of the back member is, limiting the latter to its fully erected, upstanding relation with respect to the base 17. Also, inadvertent forward movement of the back member is effectively resisted both by the receiving engagement of the notch 33, and the constant force exerted by the tension member 35.

It will thus be apparent that the display provides a completely automatically self-erecting easel adapted to be decorated on the front thereof in any of a wide variety of ways to present attractive advertising indicia and the like.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides a novel merchandising system and display for use therein which fully accomplish the intended objects and are well adapted to meet practical conditions of man ufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for pur poses of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. 1

What is claimed is:

1. A self-erecting display comprising (a) a base adapted to rest, on a supporting surface,

(b) a back member having a lower edge hinged to said base for swinging movement between a collapsed position overlying said base and an erected position upstanding from said base,

(c) a holding flap hinged to said base for swinging movement between a collapsed position substantially coplanar with said base and an erected upstanding position about an axis transverse to the hinge axis of said back member,

(d) said back member having an aperture extending from said lower edge thereof for the reception of said flap,

(2) said flap extending through said aperture and laterally beyond said base wall in coplanar relation therewith in said collapsed position,

(1) formations on said holding flap and one side of said back member engageable with each other when said back member and holding flap are erected to hold the same erected, and v (g) resilient means connected to said back member and said flap and urging the same toward their erected positions with said formations in engagement.

2. A self-erecting display comprising (a) a base adapted'to rest on a supporting surface,

(12) a back member having a lower edge hinged to the rear edge ofsaid base for swinging movement between a collapsed position overlying said base and an erected position upstanding from said base,

(0) a holding flap hinged to and extending rearwardly beyond said base for swinging movement between a collapsed position substantially coplanar with said base and an erected upstanding position about an axis transverse to thehinge axis of said back member,

(d) said back member having an aperture extending from said lower edge thereof for the reception of said flap,

(e) said flap extending through said aperture and laterally beyond said base wall in coplanar relation therewith in said collapsed position.

(f) formations on said holding flap and one side of said back member engageable with each other when said back member and holding flap are erected to hold the same erected, said formations including abutment portions on said flap and the rear side of said back member engageable to limit rearward swinging movement of said back member to its erected position, and

(g) resilient means connected to said back member and said flap and urging the same toward their erected positions with said formations in engagement.

3. A self-erecting display comprising (a) a base adapted to rest on a supporting surface,

([1) a back member having a lower edge hinged to the rear edge of said base for swinging movement between a collapsed position overlying said base and an erected position upstanding from said base,

(0) a holding flap hinged to and extending rearwardly beyond said base for swinging movement between .a collapsed position substantially coplanar with said base and an erected upstanding position about an axis transverse to the hinge axis of said back member,

(d) said back member having an aperture extending from said lower edge thereof for the reception of said flap,

(e) said flap extending through said aperture and laterally beyond said base wall in coplanar relation therewith in said collapsed position,

(f) formations on said holding flap and one side of said back member engageable with each other when said back member and holding flap are erected to hold the same erected, said formations including abutment portions on said flap and the rear side of said back member engageable to limit rearward swinging movement of said back member to its erected position, and V (g) resilient means comprising a resilient tension member having its opposite ends connected to said flap and back member respectively spaced from the hinge axis of said flap and back member and extending transverse of both of said hinge axes and urging said back member and said flap toward their erected positions with said formations in engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 890,135 Gilliland June 9, 1908 6 Pyle Mar. 24, 1936 Ouwerkerk Apr. 5, 1938 Pollock July 16, 1946 Deakers Apr. 1, 1958 Paige June 24, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 8, 1940 Great Britain J an. 26, 1949 

3. A SELF-ERECTING DISPLAY COMPRISING (A) A BASE ADAPTED TO REST ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE, (B) A BACK MEMBER HAVING A LOWER EDGE HINGED TO THE REAR EDGE OF SAID BASE FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A COLLAPSED POSITION OVERLYING SAID BASE AND AN ERECTED POSITION UPSTANDING FROM SAID BASE, (C) A HOLDING FLAP HINGED TO AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY BEYOND SAID BASE FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A COLLAPSED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WITH SAID BASE AND AN ERECTED UPSTANDING POSITION ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE HINGE AXIS OF SAID BACK MEMBER, (D) SAID BACK MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE EXTENDING FROM SAID LOWER EDGE THEREOF FOR THE RECEPTION OF SAID FLAP, (E) SAID FLAP EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURE AND LATERALLY BEYOND SAID BASE WALL IN COPLANAR RELATION THEREWITH IN SAID COLLAPSED POSITION, (F) FORMATION ON SAID HOLDING FLAP AND ONE SIDE OF SAID BACK MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN SAID BACK MEMBER AND HOLDING FLAP ARE ERECTED TO HOLD THE SAME ERECTED, SAID FORMATIONS INCLUDING ABUTMENT PORTIONS ON SAID FLAP AND THE REAR SIDE OF SAID BACK MEMBER ENGAGEABLE TO LIMIT REARWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID BACK MEMBER TO ITS ERECTED POSITION, AND (G) RESILIENT MEANS COMPRISING A RESILIENT TENSION MEMBER HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS CONNECTED TO SAID FLAP AND BACK MEMBER RESPECTIVELY SPACED FROM THE HINGE AXIS OF SAID FLAP AND BACK MEMBER AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSE OF BOTH OF SAID HINGE AXES AND URGING SAID BACK MEMBER AND SAID FLAP TOWARD THEIR ERECTED POSITIONS WITH SAID FORMATIONS IN ENGAGEMENT. 